Packer for deep wells



(No Model.)

B. MASSETH.

EAGKEE EOE EEEP` WELLS.

No. 439,166. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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NITED STATES BENJAMIN MASSETH, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PACKER FOR DEEP WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,166, dated October 28, 18.90.

Application filed May 12, 1890. Serial No. 851,420. (No model.)

Z0 all wiz/0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN MAssErH, of Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packers for Deep Wells, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing in side elevation myimproved packer insel-ted in the well, but as yet unpacked. Fig.-

2 is a similar view, with the parts in a diiferent position, showing the packer partly in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the device when the packer is in position to be expanded. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line IV IV of Fig. 2.

Like symbols of reference indicate likeparts in each. v

In the drawings, 2 represents a portion of the oil-well casing, and 8 is the eztpansible` packing tube, made, preferably, of rubber, which fits around the casing and has bearing at one end against a shoulder ci, formed, preferably, by a coupling-sleeve et on the casing. At the other end the packer has a bearing against a shoulder b, formed,preferably, by the end of a tubular section 5, which fits telescopically around the casing and is loosely set thereon, so as to becapable of longitudinal movement when unrestrained, as hereinafter described. This tubular section is made externally conical or wedge-shaped, as shown in the drawings.

6 is a collar or band, which encircles the casing below the section 5, and is provided with upwardly-projecting spring-arms 7, having iixed thereto leaf-springs S, which are bowed, as shown in the drawings, so that their middle portions shall be adapted to bear frictionally against the sides of the hole, and so that they may be moved either up or down in the hole without biting positively thereon. The section 5 is provided with longitudinal recesses or grooves 9, into which the ends of the arms 7 are adapted to tit, the ends of which recesses are adapted by engagement with the ends of the arms 7 to limit the upward motion of the latter.

The operation of the device is as follows: In casing the well the parts shown in Fig. 3

are attached to the casing-sections at or near the lower end thereof in the manner shown in the drawings, and the casing is lowered into the hole, the'parts being then in the position shown in Fig. 2, the arms 7 litting in the grooves 9, with the ends of the arms in engagement with the ends of the grooves, so as to lock them and to prevent them from rising on the conical section 5. Then it is desired to expandthe packer, the casing is lifted somewhat, and the friction of the springs 8 against the sides of the hole causes the casing to rise Within the collar 6 and the ends of the arms 7 to draw out from the grooves, as shown in Fig. l. The operator then turns the casing so as to bring the ends of the arms 7 opposite the ungrooved portions of the section 5, and the casing is allowed to descend in the. well. The friction of the springs 8 against the sides of the hole upholds the arms 7 and permits the casing to slip down within the arms, which rise over-the conical portion of the section 5. The wedge action of the latter upon the arms spreads them and causes them to bind in the hole until finally their pressure against the sides of the hole becomes sufficiently strong to uphold the weight of the casing. Because of the fact that the casing is free to move within the conical section 5, which is now jammed stationarily in the hole, the pressure of the sections of casing above the packer bearing on the rubber packer at the shoulder a compresses the rubber longitudinally and bulges it out against the side of the hole, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The casing may thus be packed at any position in the hole, all that is necessary being to turn the casing so as to disengage the spring-clamps and to free them, so that they may bind on the sides of the hole. be unpacked and moved in the Well either up or down, so as to pack it in another position. This is done by first lifting the casing when the packer is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the effect of which is to relieve the pressure of the overlying casingsections from the packer, and to cause it to resume its cylindrical form, and, further, by drawing the casing up with the arms 7, to remove said arms from Vthe conical section 5, to release'them from their grip on the sides of the hole, and to bring their ends below the lower ends of The `casing may also the grooves 9. The casing may then be turned so as to bring the ends of the arms opposite to the ends of the grooves and lowered so as to cause the arms to enter the grooves and to bring the parts into the original position shown in Fig. 2. The casing may then be moved up or down in the hole to bring the packer into the position desired, when it may then be packed in the manner above described. This facility for packing and unpacking the casing and readj usting its position in the hole constitutes a prime feature and advantage of my invention, distinguishing it from every other form of packer known to me.

It will be understood by the skilled mechanic that within the scope of my invention many other forms of detachable lock for locking and unlocking the upholding-arms 7 may be devised, the only essential being that these arms shall be held by a locking arrangement which maybe detached or readjusted by turning the casing so as to free the arms and to permit them to bind on the sides of the hole. The form of the upholding device itself may be modified in many ways, and many different kinds of expansible packers may be employed, instead of the simple rubber tube shown in the drawings.

Where the packer is to be used for packing gas-wells, or other wells where there is a strong upward pressure'which would tend to force up the casing and to draw the section 5 above the spring-arms, I prefer to invert the packing device. The relative positions and mode of operation of the parts in this instance will be accurately illustrated by viewing the drawings in an inverted position. To pack the casing after it has been lowered to its proper position in the hole, the casing is turned so as to bring the ungrooved parts of the section 5 opposite the ends of the arms '7, and the casing is then lifted, by jacks or otherwise, at the top of the hole, so as to draw the section 5 up under the arms 7 to bind these arms in the hole, and thus to lock the section 5, and eventually, by lifting the casing telescopically within the section 5 and causing the shoulder d to press against the end of the packingtube, which at the other end is resisted bythe shoulder b of the jammed section 5, the packer is properly expanded in the hole. Then the casing is thus packed, it is obvious that any upward pressure of gas on the casing will tend still more to bind the section 5 within the arms 7 to spread these arms and to hold the packer more securely in place.

In addition'to its use on casings, as above f with the pipes or casing and an expansiblepacker, of arms adapted to engage with the sides of the hole and to hold the casing to att'ord resistance to the packer and a lock for holding said arms, said lock being adapted to be disengaged by turning the casing, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In deep-well packers, the combination, with the pipes or casing and an expansible packer, of arms adapted to engage with the sides of the hole and to hold the casing to aord resistance to the packer, a cone or wedge for expanding the arms, and a stop by which the arms are restrained from motion on the casing and adapted to be freed from connection with the arms by turning the casing to permit the wedge to be moved Within said arms to expand them, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In deep-well packers, the combination, with the pipes or casing and an expansible packer, of arms adapted to engage with the sides of the hole and to hold the casing to aord resistance to the packer, a cone or wedge for expanding the arms, and recesses into which the arms iit and which restrain them from motion on the casing, whereby on` lifting and turning the casing the arms may be freed to permit the wedge to be moved within said arms to expand them, substantially as and for the purposes described.

et. In deep-well packers, the combination, with the pipes or casing and an expansible packer, of arms adapted to engage the sides of the hole and to hold the casing to aord resistance to the packer, a lock for holding said arms, means for engaging and disengaging said lock, means for expanding the arms, and springs adapted to retard the motion of the arms in the well, said springs having obtuse bearing-faces, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this r7th day of May, A. D. 1890.

BENJAMIN MASSETH.

lVtnesses:

W'. B. CoRwIN, H. M. CoRwIN.

IOO 

